No. 4.] REPORT OF LIBRARIAN. 207 



address of the executive officer, location of office, and refer- 

 ence to law under which the organization was chartered or 

 incorporated. 



During the past year, as in former years, considerable has 

 been done along the line of supplying back volumes of the 

 ' ' Agriculture of Massachusetts " to libraries of societies and 

 institutions, and quite a number of desirable publications 

 have been received in exchange. Also duplicate publications 

 have been supplied to teachers in public schools for use in 

 class-room work. Along both of these lines it is thought 

 the librarian may find a field for useful work in the future. 



Conclusion. 



The by-law of the Board already alluded to provides that 

 " the secretary shall appoint one of his clerks librarian and 

 curator." As it is thought the word "librarian" is suffi- 

 ciently comprehensive, it is suggested that the words "and 

 curator " be dropped. 



It will be readily seen that the care of the library and the 

 making of it as useful as possible along the lines suggested, 

 and others, will require that the clerk holding the appoint- 

 ment of librarian give to this work as much time and thought 

 as is possible, without neglecting his regular duties. This 

 appointment is now held by the first clerk, and it would seem 

 best that, all things considered, one person should be both 

 first clerk and librarian. It is suggested, however, that the 

 Legislature be asked to officially recognize this union of 

 offices and duties by amending the act authorizing the secre- 

 tary to employ a first clerk, and that it be also asked to 

 establish a salary which shall be in proper proportion to the 

 requirements and responsibilities of the suggested office of 

 first clerk and librarian. 



During the past year many requests for information along 

 various lines have been received, and, by the help which the 

 library affords, they have been answered as fully as possible. 

 Also a number of persons have visited the office to consult 

 the books. It is thought that when it becomes more gener- 

 ally known that there is in the office of the State Board of 

 Agriculture such a valuable scientific library, and that it is 

 so classified and catalogued as to be readily accessible, many 



